On the rise in Asia

Asian Film Finance/Filmart

From directors to actors to multihypenates, Asia is producing some new stars.

Yuya IshiiFilm directorBreakthrough: Ishii scooped the grand prize and music award for his first feature, “Bare-assed Japan,” at the 2007 edition of the Pia Film Festival — Japan’s most prolific incubator of indie directing talent for three decades. This 24-year-old helmer has since released three features — “Rebel, Jiro’s Love” (2006), “Girl Sparks” (2007) and “Of Monster Mode” (also 2007). All four pics were screened at the 2008 Rotterdam film fest and are skedded for release in Japan this year. To top off his miracle year, Ishii will receive the first Edward Yang New Talent Award at the 2008 Hong Kong Intl. Film Festival.What’s next: Not yet decided.— Mark Schilling

Na Hong-jinFilm directorBreakthrough: At first, expectations on Na’s debut film “The Chaser” — a low-budget thriller with no stars, loosely based on local news reports — were rock bottom. However, once distributor Showbox saw the completed print, it pushed up its release to early February, and the critical and popular response has been explosive. Despite its smaller scale, many compare it to Bong Joon-ho’s “Memories of Murder” (2003), and it may well beat the latter’s box office of $25 million.What’s next: Not yet decided.— Darcy Paquet

Jaycee Chan(aka Jaycee Fong, Chan Cho-ming)Actor, musicianBreakthrough: As the son of Jackie Chan, he has a foot in the door anywhere within Asia. But Jaycee achieved his own breakthrough with a trio of well-respected movies last fall. He played a wimpy but ultimately heroic cop in “Invisible Target,” the straight-arrow son in Chinese fantasy “The Sun Also Rises” and the solo star of “The Drummer.” Born and raised in L.A., the door to Hollywood is also open.What’s next: Undecided— Patrick Frater

Tian YuanActor, musician, novelistBreakthrough: Since winning best new artist kudos at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2005 for her debut in “Butterfly,” Tian has avoided the spotlight and quietly developed a solid career by working with China’s top helmers. She starred in Wang Chao’s Un Certain Regard award-winning “Luxury Car” and Tang Danian’s “Young and Clueless” as well as appeared in shorts by Jia Zhangke and Yan Yan Mak while completing college and having her second novel published in 2007.What’s next: The 22-year-old can be seen in Wang Xiaoshuai’s “In Love We Trust,” and has recently completed filming for Barbara Wong’s upcoming feature, the sequel to “Truth or Dare: 6th Floor Rear Flat.” Tian is now prepping her second album, skedded to be released later this year.— Vicci Ho